Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study

Purpose Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a paediatric network study with clinical sites across Canada suffered a reduction in participation. When research studies fail to meet enrolment targets, it can reduce the strength and validity of the results. This study explores research staff’s experiences of h...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Isobel Fishman, Suzanne Henderson, Christina Vadeboncoeur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2024-12-01
Series:International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2419158
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846124683911495680
author Isobel Fishman
Suzanne Henderson
Christina Vadeboncoeur
author_facet Isobel Fishman
Suzanne Henderson
Christina Vadeboncoeur
author_sort Isobel Fishman
collection DOAJ
description Purpose Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a paediatric network study with clinical sites across Canada suffered a reduction in participation. When research studies fail to meet enrolment targets, it can reduce the strength and validity of the results. This study explores research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study. Methods This study was conducted using a qualitative design. Focus group sessions were used to gain the perspective of research staff involved in recruitment and transcripts were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method of data analysis. Results Analysis revealed four major themes: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on research activity; (2) families of children with medical complexity perform a risk-benefit assessment when deciding whether to take part in research; (3) a trusting relationship with clinicians is a key factor in research recruitment; and (4) research needs to be flexible in order to adapt to evolving contexts. Conclusion This study identified both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19-related factors that impacted study recruitment for a paediatric network study. Understanding and addressing these challenges will mitigate the negative impacts on health outcomes that can occur when research studies fail to meet enrolment targets.
format Article
id doaj-art-c7d20e28ce4f470e8b1f59afe67d9eb1
institution Kabale University
issn 1748-2623
1748-2631
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher Taylor & Francis Group
record_format Article
series International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
spelling doaj-art-c7d20e28ce4f470e8b1f59afe67d9eb12024-12-13T15:19:03ZengTaylor & Francis GroupInternational Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being1748-26231748-26312024-12-0119110.1080/17482631.2024.24191582419158Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network studyIsobel Fishman0Suzanne Henderson1Christina Vadeboncoeur2University of Ottawa Faculty of MedicineChildren’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario Research InstituteUniversity of OttawaPurpose Since the COVID-19 pandemic, a paediatric network study with clinical sites across Canada suffered a reduction in participation. When research studies fail to meet enrolment targets, it can reduce the strength and validity of the results. This study explores research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study. Methods This study was conducted using a qualitative design. Focus group sessions were used to gain the perspective of research staff involved in recruitment and transcripts were analysed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method of data analysis. Results Analysis revealed four major themes: (1) the COVID-19 pandemic had an impact on research activity; (2) families of children with medical complexity perform a risk-benefit assessment when deciding whether to take part in research; (3) a trusting relationship with clinicians is a key factor in research recruitment; and (4) research needs to be flexible in order to adapt to evolving contexts. Conclusion This study identified both COVID-19 and non-COVID-19-related factors that impacted study recruitment for a paediatric network study. Understanding and addressing these challenges will mitigate the negative impacts on health outcomes that can occur when research studies fail to meet enrolment targets.http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2419158study recruitmentcovid-19 pandemicresearchresearch challengespediatrichealthcare
spellingShingle Isobel Fishman
Suzanne Henderson
Christina Vadeboncoeur
Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health & Well-Being
study recruitment
covid-19 pandemic
research
research challenges
pediatric
healthcare
title Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
title_full Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
title_fullStr Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
title_full_unstemmed Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
title_short Research staff’s experiences of how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
title_sort research staff s experiences of how the covid 19 pandemic impacted recruitment for a paediatric network study
topic study recruitment
covid-19 pandemic
research
research challenges
pediatric
healthcare
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17482631.2024.2419158
work_keys_str_mv AT isobelfishman researchstaffsexperiencesofhowthecovid19pandemicimpactedrecruitmentforapaediatricnetworkstudy
AT suzannehenderson researchstaffsexperiencesofhowthecovid19pandemicimpactedrecruitmentforapaediatricnetworkstudy
AT christinavadeboncoeur researchstaffsexperiencesofhowthecovid19pandemicimpactedrecruitmentforapaediatricnetworkstudy